Birds

 I saw lots of different birds out the patio door today but only a few of them stayed still long

enough for me to take their pictures.  I saw a Hummingbird and a Nuthatch that each only stayed around for a second.  This pair of Chickadees came to the platform feeder for just long enough to have their picture taken.

 

 

Then this Downy Woodpecker came to the empty suet feeder and stayed for a photo op.

I took a jaunt to the Sunny Hill farmstand for sweet corn along with a steady stream of other customers.  Everyone was masked and kept social distance.  It was tempting to buy one of everything but I settled for a cucumber to have with my garden tomatoes.

Then I started another toe sock for a cast.  I'm a big fan of these self-patterning yarns.  The way the yarn is dyed makes stripes and patterns without having to use different yarns and leave all those tails to be woven in.

16 August--Barbara Malcolm, Better Than Mom's. 

Brady followed Fay’s advice and made peace with the quartet of boys from the apartments.  The next time they came in and ordered Cokes, he told them they could have them free in exchange for a little help around the diner.  They emptied the trash and carried bus tubs into the kitchen for Fay.  If they worked especially hard, they got ice cream too.

A few days after the work-for-Cokes agreement began a boy, the smallest one, came late after all the indoor chores were done and the three boys were having Cokes. 

Brady looked down at him and said, “The only job left is to sweep around the building and clean the parking lot.” 

The kid took the push broom and got to work.  He swept up all of the litter, dropped cigarette buts, and small pieces of paper.  He picked up all of the cans for the recycling bin. 

Brady went back to work and forgot about him, but the boy kept working and an hour later came back in for his “pay.” 

“All done, Mr. Brady,” the boy said.

“Let’s go check your work,” Brady said. 

He went out with Brady to show that he’d done the work and Brady was impressed at the thoroughness of the job. 

“What’s your name?” he asked the kid.

“Tom,” he said to his shoes. 

Brady clapped his shoulder and said, “You did a good job, Tom.  Come inside.” 

When Brady offered him ice cream Tom said, “Can I have a sandwich? Just a little sandwich, please.” 

“You have ice cream at home?” 

“No, sir.” 

“Things hungry at home?”  

He keeps his eyes on his lap.  “Yes, sir, it’s hungry at home.” 

Brady set about making him a ham sandwich. “What kind of bread do you like?” 

“There’s more than one kind?” 

“Never mind.”  Brady put thick slices of ham and cheese with lettuce on good old white bread.  He cut the sandwich and put the plate in front of Tom.  “Glass of milk?” Brady asked. 

Tom nodded his head yes, his mouth full of sandwich. 

After that Tom came by a few days a week asking for the broom.  The parking lot had never been cleaner.  Brady had his ham sandwich and glass of milk ready when he came in from sweeping.

Today's toss was another Gevalia coffee maker.  Durwood signed up for Gevalia coffee a bunch of times because in those days you got a free coffee maker when you did.  Durwood was big on "free."  He'd get the coffee deliveries for a month or two and then cancel it so I have three coffee makers, one never used, so today the never used one went to the car.  I also have a Keurig pot so I'm keeping the last pot I used as backup.

--Barbara